2 SC legislators lost, 3 face runoffs, many more seats unchanged after Tuesday’s primary
Two long-time Midlands legislators who were seeking another term in the State House lost their primary elections on Tuesday and another 13 incumbents across the state did not seek reelection, meaning at least 15 of 170 state House and Senate districts are sure to have new representation come January.
Three state lawmakers face runoffs on June 23, giving challengers a chance to oust incumbents.
But for many state legislative districts, Tuesday and the pending runoffs later this month all but finalize who would represent voters in them. For many voters, the primary election was the only time they had a say of who would serve in the General Assembly.
In the House, 64 of 124 districts did not have candidates from multiple parties file in the race. In the Senate, 14 of 46 districts only had candidates from one party file to run, meaning the winner of those primaries would end up the victor in November, unless a petition candidate who gets onto the ballot with signatures from 5% of the registered voters in their district or a write-in candidate mount a highly unlikely challenge.
In 10 Senate districts and 53 House districts, incumbents ran unopposed by anyone in their party or an opposing party, clearing the path to reelection, a long-shot petition or write-in candidacy notwithstanding.
Republican State Rep. Kit Spires, a pharmacist who has represented his Lexington district since 2007, lost to Ryan McCabe, a lawyer who lives in Lexington, in Tuesday’s Republican primary. No Democrat filed for that seat, clearing the path for him to take office in January.
Spires serves on the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee as well as the Rules Committee.
State Rep. Jimmy Bales, D-Richland, has been in the General Assembly since 1993. The 84-year-old lost to Jermaine Johnson in the Democratic primary. Johnson will go onto face Republican Vincent Wilson in November.
SC legislators in runoffs
Three legislators are facing runoffs on June 23: state Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, state Rep. Neal Collins, R- Pickens, and state Rep. Bill Chumley, R-Spartanburg. They each garnered the most votes in their races, but did not receive the majority of the support needed to avoid a runoff.
Rankin only garnered 40% of the vote in his district. Rankin, who has been in the Senate since 1993 and serves as chairman of the important Judiciary Committee, will face John Gallman, a former youth pastor who is now a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Myrtle Beach.
Collins received 45% of the vote in his Upstate district. Allen Quinn, of Easley, came in second in Tuesday’s primary, setting up a rematch between two candidates who also had a runoff election in 2018.
Chumley received 46% of the vote in his primary. He will face Chris Bennett, of Woodruff, on June 23.
